Counselor Identity

The field of counseling originated in the early 20th century with the establishment of the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) in 1913, the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) in 1924, the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE) in 1931, and the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers (NAGCT) in 1940 (Leong, 2008). These four organizations came together to form the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) in 1952, which later became the current-day American Counseling Association (ACA). The cornerstones of the counseling profession were derived from the four founding organizations’ identities and philosophies, which include an emphasis on research-based practice, lifespan development, career development, and social justice.